Jaguar to Test Pizzonia at Barcelona

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia will test for the Jaguar team at the Barcelona circuit this week, the Milton Keynes team said today.

Jaguar spokesman Nav Sidhu said Pizzonia, currently a test driver for Williams as well as competing in the recently finished Formula 3000 championship, will test in Barcelona on Thursday and Friday.

The 22-year-old from the Amazonian city of Manaus will take over in the car from Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, who lives nearby and will be testing tyres on Wednesday and Thursday morning. Germany's Andre Lotterer will remain in England for straight-line testing at the Santa Pod racetrack.

Briton Eddie Irvine, third in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix for Jaguar, has gone to Miami ahead of sponsorship commitments for next week's U.S. Grand Prix. Irvine's contract with the Ford-owned team expires at the end of the season, although he and the team have yet to announce their plans for 2003, and Jaguar have been assessing drivers for several months.

The team also lack a regular test driver. Minardi's Australian Mark Webber is seen as a front runner should Irvine leave but Pizzonia, who has already clocked up thousands of test kilometres for Williams, could force his way into the reckoning if he impresses.

"We're keeping our options open," said Sidhu. "There's a lot of talent out there right now."

Both Jaguar and Williams use Michelin tyres.